There has been quite a bit of confusion over whether or not U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a highly respected civil rights leader, has shifted his support from Hillary Clinton, whom he had long backed, to Barack Obama.

The New York Times ran a front-page story today saying Lewis now "tilts to Obama." The story claimed that Lewis "planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate for Senator Barack Obama in hopes of preventing a fight at the Democratic convention."

But the Clinton campaign is now circulating a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggesting the Times report "is not accurate." The Washington Post has a similar report in which a Lewis spokesperson says he "has left the option of changing his superdelegate support for Clinton on the table, but made no decisions."

Why are people so concerned with Lewis' opinion? It has a lot to do with Obama's recent emergence as Democratic front-runner. The Democratic establishment still largely backs the formerly "inevitable" first lady, but with Obama's recent run that support is shaky.

There is a sense that the defection of the enormously well-respected Lewis could open the door for other Democrats to switch sides as well. And in a race that could come down to the opinions of the superdelegates, a group largely comprised of party insiders, such a shift could decide the nomination.